Floor-Mounted Charging Connector Covers Against Foreign Matter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle charging systems face the challenge of preventing foreign matter entry into the housing space that houses equipment during charging, which is not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle charging system design featuring a main body fixed to the floor, a slide body, a connector unit with pivoting arms, and multiple covers that extend to form a protective frame around the connector unit when the arms are erected, ensuring the housing space is sealed from foreign matter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the housing space is open during charging to allow connector access, then the ease of operation is improved, but foreign matters can enter the housing space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector accessVSAvoidforeign matter entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed to dynamically follow the arm's movement. When the arm pivots from the retracted position to the erected position, the cover pivots accordingly to maintain coverage over the housing space. This dynamic adaptation allows the cover to remain effective throughout the entire charging operation without blocking connector access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as a flexible protective barrier that can change its position and orientation. It pivots on a rotation axis to follow the arm's motion, creating a flexible shield that protects the housing space from foreign matters while allowing the connector to access the vehicle during charging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cover is fixed to prevent foreign matter entry, then the protection is improved, but the arm movement and connector access are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter preventionVSAvoidarm movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover's rotation axis is positioned such that the cover moves in a different dimensional plane than the arm's primary movement. This allows the cover to maintain protective coverage while the arm moves freely in its operational plane, effectively separating the protective function from the operational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20240025281A1Vehicle charging system

Publication Date: 2024.01.25 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A vehicle charging system includes a main body fixed to a floor part of a vehicle stop space, a slide body slidable in a first direction relative to the main body, a connector unit including arms and a connector to be connected to the vehicle to charge, a first cover that covers the arms from a side of the main body while pivoting in conjunction with pivoting of the arms, a second cover supported by the slide body and disposed on a side opposite to the side of the main body, and third covers supported by the slide body and disposed on both sides of the connector unit in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. When the arms are erected, the second cover and the third covers extend upward in conjunction with the pivoting of the arms, thereby forming a frame that surrounds the arms.